Голодные игры

           Ithinkaboutturningitdown,butI’veneverhadwine,exceptthehomemadestuffmymotherusesforcoughs,andwhenwillIgetachancetotryitagain?Itakeasipofthetart,dryliquidandsecretlythinkitcouldbeimprovedbyafewspoonfulsofhoney.

           Haymitchshowsupjustasdinnerisbeingserved.Itlooksasifhe’shadhisownstylistbecausehe’scleanandgroomedandaboutassoberasI’veeverseenhim.Hedoesn’trefusetheofferofwine,butwhenhestartsinonhissoup,Irealizeit’sthefirsttimeI’veeverseenhimeat.Maybehereallywillpullhimselftogetherlongenoughtohelpus.

           CinnaandPortiaseemtohaveacivilizingeffectonHaymitchandEffie.Atleastthey’readdressingeachotherdecently.Andtheybothhavenothingbutpraiseforourstylists’openingact.Whiletheymakesmalltalk,Iconcentrateonthemeal.Mushroomsoup,bittergreenswithtomatoesthesizeofpeas,rareroastbeefslicedasthinaspaper,noodlesinagreensauce,cheesethatmeltsonyourtongueservedwithsweetbluegrapes.Theservers,allyoungpeopledressedinwhitetunicsliketheonewhogaveuswine,movewordlesslytoandfromthetable,keepingtheplattersandglassesfull.

           Abouthalfwaythroughmyglassofwine,myheadstartsfeelingfoggy,soIchangetowaterinstead.Idon’tlikethefeelingandhopeitwearsoffsoon.HowHaymitchcanstandwalkingaroundlikethisfull-timeisamystery.